Consistent with the Biden Administration’s Executive Order on Transforming Federal Customer Experience and Service Delivery to Rebuild Trust in Government by improving the customer experience, on October 8, 2024, United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (“USCIS”) introduced an electronic PDF filing option for certain I-765 Employment Authorization Document (“EAD”) applicants via their personal USCIS online accounts. Eligible applicants may file Requests for Fee Waiver, Form I-912 in PDF format as well, which marks the first time fee waiver requests can be filed online.
The expansion to PDF filing means that qualified individuals may now upload a completed Form I-765 and associated evidence in PDF format through their USCIS online accounts. Initially, the PDF filing option has been made available for I-765 applicants in certain categories, including:
(a)(12): Granted Temporary Protected Status (TPS);
(c)(8): Asylum application pending filed on or after Jan. 4, 1995;
(c)(9): Certain family-based and employment-based applicants pending adjustment of status under Section 245 of the Immigration and Nationality Act;
(c)(11): Parolee; and
(c)(19): Pending initial application for TPS where USCIS determines applicant is prima facie eligible for TPS and can receive an EAD as a “temporary treatment benefit.”
Applicants in the (c)(9) Pending Adjustment of Status category who qualify for fee exemptions should not use the PDF option; they are required to submit a paper application to receive their exemption.
Specifics about the New Process
The new online filing system for the I-765 application uses the traditional format of Form I-765, saved and uploaded in PDF format instead of an electronic online format. Individuals can download the necessary PDF forms from the USCIS website, fill them out electronically or by hand, and then upload them to their myUSCIS account. While the completed I-765 form must be electronically signed, if an I-912, Request for Fee Waiver, is included with the application, it must be printed, signed by hand, scanned, and uploaded to the application.
For those not eligible for a fee waiver, any associated fees can be paid online or by requesting a fee waiver. Recent issues with the system may require the applicants to pay fees using a mobile phone connection rather than their computers. USCIS will review the application within thirty days and either accept or reject it. If the case is accepted, the applicant will receive a physical receipt notice in the mail. Rejected applications will be able to be refiled by applicants. For now, this new filing method is only available to individual applicants and not those represented by attorneys or accredited representatives.
Once accepted, applications filed through the PDF option will maintain the same case management features as those submitted via traditional e-filing. Individuals can still file paper applications, if preferred. Additionally, USCIS has shared its Tech Talk highlighting the features of the PDF filing system online for the public on its YouTube channel where the Service showcases many informational resources.